Walt Disney World has been quietly reducing admission and hotel prices in response to growing customer dissatisfaction and falling park attendance over recent months.
In May, Disney introduced discounted three-day ticket packages allowing access to Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom for $89 per day, although tickets for Magic Kingdom must still be bought separately. These reduced ticket prices, valid until September 24, sharply contrast with the peak price of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass.
Additionally, Disney is working to lower the overall cost of a visit to the Florida resort by cutting prices on its budget hotel options. A night at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort could be as low as $100, based on booking dates, marking discounts of up to 27% from regular rates, according to a Bloomberg analysis.
This summer, the parks have also rolled out new dining packages, cutting food prices by 20% to 30%. The plan allows families to buy all-day meal passes for $30 per child and $95 per adult, which can be used for various meals and snacks throughout the parks. Furthermore, Disney World is offering more quick meal options, affordable kids’ meals, and more lenient restaurant policies.
Experts in the Disney industry attribute declining customer satisfaction partly to the rising costs of dining within the parks. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, reported a drop in customer satisfaction ratings from 90% to 60% as Disney shifted from a la carte dining to fixed-price meals at many of its top restaurants.
While Testa commended Disney’s cost-cutting approaches, he warned that these changes may not signal a genuine commitment to making visits more affordable or improving guest satisfaction. He noted, “Disney has long been willing to sacrifice a certain number of positive ratings for a certain amount of revenue.”